Eats

Kong’s new taco and quesadilla concept has opened at Black Dog Ballroom

Salt and Pepper is out and Kong's are in, bringing their new tacos, quesadillas and Birria gravy-soaked fries with them.

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 2nd September 2022

As one door closes, another opens. Never has this been more true than in the Northern Quarter right now, where chefs are rotating kitchens like it’s a game of musical chairs.

Modern Chinese favourite Salt and Pepper has just made its exit from Black Dog, the popular late-night bar that opens until 4am, in preparation to open its own venue round the corner on High Street.

In its place, Kong’s Chicken Shop has moved in with a brand new taco and quesadilla concept.

After a very happy year of naughty burgers and roast dinners at Northern Monk Taproom (now home to beloved lasagne restaurant Lazy Tony’s), the team is venturing on to pastures new with a new Mexican-inspired menu of gravy-soaked goodies.

Of course. Kong’s signature fried chicken still features prominently. In fact, you can still get your hands on Kong’s signature burger and some of the most popular sandwiches. But in truth, we’re here for the tacos.

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Think thigh meat brined for three hours, rolled in a secret spice mix, then double-dredged for a crispier texture, topping a 6-inch hasa marina corn taco with accompanying iceberg, chipotle slaw, diced pickles and burger sauce.

Elsewhere on the new list, you’ll find Al Pastor adobo pork neck tacos, barbacoa beef shin tacos with green jalapeno harissa, and sustainable white battered fish tacos with crispy capers, tartar and tajin shoestring fries.

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As ever, the food at Kong’s is set apart by the attention to detail. There is no scrimping on flavour here.

As for the new quesadillas, each comes with candied jalapenos, guacamole and heaps of cheese, as well as crema and house hot sauce.

As for sides and sauces, choose from crispy shoestring fries, queso cheese loaded fries, or a ‘nacho salad’ with charred sweetcorn, salsa, lime jalapeno dressing and crumbled cheese.

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Read more: A new Japanese matcha dessert house has opened in Manchester

Alternatively, you can go all out with the loaded beef Birria fries, feat. barbacoa beef Bbirria gravy and a rich queso cheese sauce.

Currently in its soft launch phase, Kong’s officially opens at Black Dog Ballroom on Monday from 12-9pm. seven days a week.

Feature image – The Manc Eats

Eats

First look inside Gail’s on King Street as it opens in Manchester

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

This week, the famous London bakery Gail’s opens its first ever cafe in Manchester city centre.

The build-up has been substantial, with the team first launching in the neighbouring towns of Wilmslow and Altrincham before venturing into the heart of the city.

Newly arrived on King Street, the brand new cafe spans two floors, with extensive seating beneath its bakery and more stretching out into the street with a sun trap al fresco terrace that opens daily from 11am.

Due to open tomorrow, we popped down ahead of the opening for a sneak peek to see what the team has in store for Manchester.

The new cafe’s exterior is covered in handpainted murals by local artist Amy Coney, created as part of the city’s recent flower festival, whilst inside it’s all warm, burnished wood and sage-coloured coffee appliances.

Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats

A huge bakery counter overflowing with warm quiches, croissants, cakes and other bakes is the first thing to greet you, flanked by a wall stacked floor-to-ceiling with loaves of bread – all freshly baked this morning.

Read more: Hit Christmas market stall opens permanently at Piccadilly Gardens

Loaf choices include classic white and brown sourdough, Gail’s ‘wasteless’ loaves (made using a specially-created recipe designed to incorporate unsold bread crumbs), alongside seeded varieties, baguettes and batons.

As for coffee, this is specially roasted for Gail’s cafes and changes four times a year with the seasons.

Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats

Must-tries include Gail’s famous cinnamon buns, still-warm cheese and ham croissants, chocolate chip cookies, and – given the weather we’re having this week – iced coffees, all day long preferably please.

Read more: All the June Manchester restaurant deals, discounts and offers you need in 2023

As part of the new opening, the team has commissioned a beautiful floral mural to be painted in its windows by local artist Amy Coney.

Gail’s will also be working with local restaurant-backed charity Eat Well MCR to help provide nutritious meals to local people in need as it looks to establish itself in Manchester.

Featured image – The Manc Eats

Eats

The Middle Eastern bottomless brunch with endless wine, beer and cocktails

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

There’s a new bottomless brunch in Manchester with Middle Eastern-inspired small plates, and if you love a good Saturday afternoon out on the town then you absolutely need to put it on your list.

Hosted at former Michelin-recommended King Street restaurant Habas, for £38 per person diners can enjoy a ‘tipsy tapas’ with 90 minutes of non-stop cocktails, wine, beer, and a mouthwatering selection of punchy small plates.

Drink choices include the likes of fruit punch, Aperol and apricot spritzes, prosecco and bellinis, plus glasses of house lager and red, white and rose wine.

As for the food, you’re completely spoilt for choice with a selection of dishes that pulls out some of the restaurant’s dish highlights – spanning starters, mains and puddings.

Choices available with the bottomless brunch include the likes of harissa-roasted sweet potato, steaming chicken tagine, the most perfect crisp lamb pomme anna, garlic flatbreads and roasted cauliflower.

Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats

Elsewhere, you’ll find mini Merguez sausages, salmon arancini, seared mackerel fillets, Israeli chopped salad, batata harra, Syrian lentils, Zalouk aubergine and Habas’s own Middle Eastern rice.

As for sweets to finish, think traditional honey and pistachio-drenched baklava, miniature donuts oozing with raspberry jam with a dollop of homemade vanilla custard on the side, zingy pineapple carpaccio, a Medjool date and orange cake, and beautiful cubes of Turkish delight.

The third city centre restaurant from Simon Shaw (also chef-owner of El Gato Negro and Canto), Habas was added to the Michelin guide in 2021.

Read more: Hit Christmas market stall opens permanently at Piccadilly Gardens

At the time, inspectors described it as follows: “Habas comes from the same owners as Canto and El Gato Negro and occupies what was once the wine cellars of the magnificent former Manchester Club building.

Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats

“Arrive early for a cocktail in the bar before moving into the fun, slightly retro style dining room.

“Small sharing plates take their influences mainly from the Middle East but there are also hints of the Mediterranean to be seen.

Read more: All the June Manchester restaurant deals, discounts and offers you need in 2023

“Must-haves include the homemade pita bread, stuffed filo cigars and vegetable dishes.”

Habas and its sister restaurant Canto have both since been removed from the Michelin Guide but Shaw’s original Manchester restaurant El Gato Negro continues to be featured as a Bib Gourmand recommendation.

To find out more about Tipsy Tapas and book a table, visit the Habas website here.

Featured image – The Manc Eats

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